The Story Of… Mission Santa Clara de Asís

By Karen Beishuizen
Photos courtesy of Mission Santa Clara de Asís

Mission Santa Clara is the 8th mission in the chain of 21 California missions founded by Fr. Junipero Serra. It was founded in 1777 to secure the south San Francisco Bay Area for the Spanish Empire. When the 8th California Mission needed a name, the Franciscan padres chose “St. Clare of Assisi” as their patron due to her close association with St. Francis and for her strong faith. Thus, Mission Santa...